The University of Arkansas Staff Senate is a vital organization that seeks to enact
positive change and improvements for the staff members of the university. It serves
as a platform for the exchange of ideas, assessing proposals, and voicing suggestions
and concerns pertinent to the university environment.
The Staff Senate, led by elected senators representing all facets across the Fayetteville
campus, acts as an advocate for staff members, addressing crucial issues related to
compensation, benefits, safety, parking and other workplace concerns. Their dedication
to celebrating, recognizing, and giving back to the hardworking staff helps maintain
the tradition of excellence at the University of Arkansas.
You're Welcome at Our Meetings
Any employee of the University of Arkansas is welcome at the Staff Senate's monthly meetings. Join us! The sessions are held 3-4:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in Room 349 of the Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence (CORD). A hybrid option continues to be available for joining online. Our Meeting Schedule has the MS Teams links and other details.
Communications
Staff Senate is the elected body of staff members charged with making recommendations directly to the chancellor. To do this effectively, we need to hear from our constituents. If you have ideas, proposals or suggestions for Staff Senate, please review our Feedback page for the email address and related information.
Note that incidents of discrimination, harrassment or threatening behavior should be submitted directly via report.uark.edu.
Running for Staff Senate
U of A staff employees now can nominate others or themselves to serve on the Staff Senate. Information and the nomination form can be found at "Staff Senate Nominations Now Open." The link also includes general rules and the obligations of the staff senator. The deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Once nominations are cleared, election instructions and candidate bios will be on this website.
Staff Senate News
- "Staff Senate Nominations Now Open", University of Arkansas News, Feb 29, 2024
- "Staff Senate Announce Spring 2024-2025 Scholarship Recipients", University of Arkansas News, Feb 13, 2024
- "Congratulations Employees of the 2nd Quarter", University of Arkansas News, Feb 9, 2024
- "Employee Spotlight: Lt. Michael R. Oakes", University of Arkansas News, Feb. 7, 2024
- "Employee Spotlight: Emerald Hames, Associate Director of Inclusive Career Design", University of Arkansas News, Jan. 24, 2024
- "Employee Spotlight: Brian Poepsel", University of Arkansas News, Jan. 10, 2024
- "Deadline Approaching: Nominate Staff for Employee of the 2nd Quarter Today," University of Arkansas News, Dec. 15, 2023
- "Support Staff: Donate to RazorGifts," University of Arkansas News, Nov. 16, 2023
- "Congratulations Employees of the First Quarter," University of Arkansas News, Nov. 9, 2023
- "Staff Senate Now Accepting Spring 2024 Staff Senate Scholarship Applications," University of Arkansas News, Nov. 7, 2023
- "A Thank-You Note to Campus," University of Arkansas News, Oct. 18, 2023
- "University Celebrates Employees at Annual Staff Appreciation Banquet," University of Arkansas News, Oct. 13, 2023
- "Staff Appreciation and State of the University Highlight One University Week at U of A," University of Arkansas News, Oct. 10, 2023
The university announced a classification and compensation study in the spring of 2022 to address not only salaries but overall employee classification and employment structure. Human Resources has details on the Classification and Compensation Project.
Acknowledgment of staff excellence and dedication is a key aspect of the Staff Senate’s work. With award programs like the Employee of the Quarter and and Employee of the Year Awards, the Outstanding Staff Team Award, and the Part Time Employee Award, the Senate recognizes the exceptional performance of staff members who work less than 1250 hours per year, and those who have demonstrated excellent teamwork.
Furthermore, the Staff Senate coordinates several annual events to show appreciation for the hardworking university staff, such as the Staff Appreciation Week in the fall and the Staff Celebration Picnic in the spring. Winter's RazorGifts program encourages staff to gift one another during the holiday season, spreading goodwill and supporting those in need within the community.